The autonomy plan proposed by Morocco "is likely to bring bout a negotiated political solution" to the Sahara issue, "said Speaker of Sicily's regional, Francesco Cascio.

The Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs began Thursday, the works of its first regular session for 2009.

Morocco's plan to grant autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, is a "serious initiative" to reach a final solution to the Sahara conflict, Head of the Unit for the Middle East and North Africa at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Helena Tuuri, said, here Wednesday.

Mr. Ould Errachid Khalihenna, chairman of the Royal Advisory Saharan Affairs, attended the 1st Regional Conference on Governance: individual rights, economic development and social progress, organized by Amadeus Institute, on February 26-27, 2009, in Marrakesh.